Dear America,

Let GO Your EGO

We can't fix our problems coming from a position of ego; it simply doesn't work.

When our approach to life is self-conscious, coming from 'what's in it for me' or 'how is this gonna look', we hinder our true ability for success every time.  In light of where we are at with this Gulf Oil Spill, what needs to have a good a** kicking is really our ego (well, not really yours, or mine) -- right out the door.

Over the course of the last 56 days...we have watched the antics of both BP and BO both masquerade as being "the one" in control, attempting to reassure every American that we will overcome, while at the same time, vying for position to capitalize on the catastrophe and gain our confidences.  It's as if we've been hearing each of them say to us,

'I'm in charge' 

'No, I'm in charge' 

'I'm gonna kick your a** '

'I'm in charge,'

'No, I'm in charge.'

Now get out of my way...'

EGO has been running so deep, that neither our POTUS or the CEO of BP have sat down together (rumor has it, that will take place tomorrow).

EGO has been so huge, our POTUS hasn't even picked up the phone to talk to the CEO -- whether it was upon day one, as in extending his condolences and concerns to a company thrust into mayhem -- or at anytime that has followed, if only to impress upon them the need for speed, confer plans, or make way for government intervention.  No personal contact was made from our president to their president whatsoever...huh? ?  ?

It was as if EGO told the president to tell the Dutch, 'no thank you, we don't need your help' -- when they offered a fleet of skimmers.

It was as if EGO told the president to drum up a "bi-partisan" investigation, to capitalize on all the ways deep oil rigging compromises the security of our environment, and to recommend the hundred and one reasons we need to refrain from this kind of perilous activity in the future, and in the end (in as much as six months from now), justify making knee jerk solutions -- so that we never have to live through this again.

It was as if EGO told the president to send in the Attorney General first and ask questions later.

It was as if EGO told the president to allow for weeks to go by, when in fact burns and berms and booms were just waiting in the wings waiting for approval from the one in charge since day one -- all the while, natural materials just chomping at the bit for their opportunity to save the day sat on the shore.

It was as if EGO told the president to treat BP like the villain, when in fact, America relies on their expertise and bank roll; if BP goes down in flames or shame, recovery not only suffers, it becomes our financial burden to boot entirely; then what?

Of course, we voted for the EGO back behind the man -- albeit, only distinguishable from far, far away, under the setting of a stage and campaign promises.  The elevation of a contender for office works well for the underpinnings of a larger than life EGO; it works in one's favor really -- in the Executive Office, not so much.

Truth is, EGO is never enough when coupled with lack of experience; it may appear to come out fighting; it may give the illusion of being in control; but in the great scheme of things, if EGO is not safely sequestered to the last resort (and only to save a life),  relegating solid, executive order higher management to take the helm, then we are altogether functioning from the wrong intention.

I am reminded by one of science's absolutes, as deciphered through the teachings of Wayne Dyer-- when he emerges with the idea that "the Law of Floatation was not discovered through the contemplation of the sinking of things;" for, to be perfectly clear, boats are made from stuff that indisputably does not float... 

So how in the world? 

Through the balance of what is seen and unseen, by a natural law that in and of itself appears to look like nothing at all, by the displacement of the tangible with the intangible -- the free flow of air and space, gallivanting in the galleys, keeps a boat afloat.

Only by harnessing the harmony of the raw material -- combining that which would otherwise be deemed titanic assumptions based on defeat, with something so rudimentary as a balance of space through the simple displacement of water --  success is achieved.  Something floats, when in fact it is made out of things which do not float.

During the campaign, America was lifted up by the ideas surrounding a candidate of hope and change. The belief that hope floats entered a whole new realm of being; it was contagious, and pervasive, reaching tidal wave proportions. 

The thing is, returning to the Gulf today, our president seems uncharacteristically more focused on the ways BP is sinking, all the while -- with his lack of foresight and business acumen, and ego leading the way --America is being commissioned to go down along with it. 

If for a moment we could take into account the same law of floatation, if you will --  how does this approach from our leader neither serve or hold us steady, let alone keep as afloat?

To best connect with the solutions that truly float, BO must find a way to harmonize with BP, using all raw materials available, communing each to it's highest and best good -- not in response to worst case scenario or lowest common denominator of probable outcomes:

• instead of going against the tide, we must step into the flow of all hands on deck;
• instead of seeking to punish or criminalize, we must act in accordance with how may I help, first and foremost;
• instead of trying to sink BP dividends and reinforce bad will between a long time ally and staunch supporter, we must come together for the benefit of all economies involved;
• instead of demonizing oil companies that provide for the American way of life, we must elevate the need to use our power and resources all the more wisely without dismantling an entire American industry, and jeopardizing our future;  
• instead of turning away any and all offers to help, we must open up the channels for every living soul with a boat, and time on their hands to do something, out loose to trap, cajole, suck up, and harness every drop of oil out there, for time is of the essence.
• instead of blaming the past for mistakes of the present, take command of the response to save the future; leaders are needed to lead in courage, in action (and anyway, talk is cheap, a sign of weakness when not backed with due diligence).

We know when our ego is out of whack by how we feel; when simply uncomfortable and uneasy, our higher self is speaking to us; when we are angry and lash out -- when we live in fear, worry or wretched discontent -- our deeper teacher is alerting us to step aside; but if our intentions are pure and if the solution feels good -- all anxiety ceases immediately -- our ease and clarity becomes a tell-tale sign that we are riding the right wave, we are heading in the right direction and that it bears the right conditions for a true beacon of hope to see us through.

The challenge is best described by how well we flow with one another, not against; our enterprising ideas coupled with the natural resources we are surrounded with (in people and material) work best when we capitalize on the laws of harmony and floatation; when we jump into the flow with a spirit of how can we assist each other, answers are made manifest that would not otherwise have been recognized -- as the needs of an overzealous ego would surely have stood in their way, wanting credit or achievement in vain.

As we embrace the character that has made America, the story of US has managed to stay afloat by our inherent ability to use what is seen and unseen to the highest and best use.  We give, we make, we do, we live, we accomplish, we create by uniting in the spirit that emanates from the Source of all creation.  "The things we make, make us" (ode to the new Jeep ad) -- the principles we uphold, sustain us -- the foundation of a country based entirely upon the values of 'how may I assist',  lift us, and keep us buoyant and steady at the wheel.

Individually, and collectively, we have a duty to each other to find our way to stay afloat according to our highest and best good; perhaps if we looked to wanting more for others than what we want for ourselves might be a place to start...practicing random acts of kindness, of humility, of generosity, of grace...

Every day in America reinforces the balance of freedom to choose our response, with the structure of that which holds us all together.

To be captain of America takes experience, indeed -- but more than that, it takes someone aligned with the natural law that permeates through her floor boards, ingrained with the wealth of understanding of where we have been and what we are made, while holding true to the explicit commitment, from inaugural day forward, with hand on the Bible, to stay the course.  From this point onward, a moral compass and North Star may be all one really needs, to lead.

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

Well, at least he took all the guess work out of it now.

I'm with stupid has been kicked up to a whole nother level; for have no fear -- I'm with the government... I'm here to help and save the day! (say it like Bullwinkle).

It is just a wonder he actually said it.

 'we've been in charge since day one'

Talk about acting stupidly. If it wasn't enough to hear Carol Browner repeat over the last couple of days, the government is in charge, the government is in charge, now we have the man in charge telling us the very same thing.

Of course, it included a bit of tempering -- when forced to address the Katrina comparisons by reporters, who actually got a chance to throw out live questions to the man, a first in many moons.  He likened to say that in uncharted territory, as times like these are, the ability to answer to all needs, and all concerns, has it's limitations.  Basically, a mellow cry for hope and change, with a monstrous side of cut me some slack.

Bush is still living off many a sleepless nights after Katrina -- but besides Katrina being an act of God and the BP spill an act of man, the similarities to the cause are simply non existent.  What is cause for alarm, is the effects.  As a people, we always want the added security of doing everything possible -- and even then, it may not be enough.

Obama said today that the federal government is in charge, just in case we had any doubts -- and on top of that, they have been in charge since day one!   And doesn't that sit well in the gallows of our confidences.  Do you feel better? Do ya? Do ya?

It's like we've been collectively watching a car wreck for a month.


Going back through the last several weeks, nobody could even give the same answer as to how much oil was gushing; we watched days go by waiting for boom to arrive; one minute BP said the effects to the environment would be minimal, while the next, categorizing the spill as the worst ever; we waited for weeks to hear someone, anyone, take full control, to put our minds at ease, while plumes of oil uncontrollably leaked into the most pristine and abundant fishing resources of the entire country -- all the while, finger pointing was taken to an unprecedented art form.

And how about the use of COREXIT -- a dispersant known to be highly toxic to humans. (And wouldn't that also include fish and everything else we don't see below the surface?)  On top of that, it is "dispersed" upon the sea floor, it keeps the oil from rising to the surface where it may otherwise meet it's fate by evaporation -- the corexit basically holds the oil hostage at the bottom, uses a greater toxic to kill a toxic, and doesn't eliminate a darned thing (or stop it for that matter) it disperses it...spreads it out...seeping into the nooks and crannies and homesteads of all living creatures under the sea.

COREXIT was banned in the UK ten years ago -- and so why would we be allowing, being the one's in charge and all, a company by the name of British Petroleum to use it, pray tell?

COREXIT is four times more toxic than the crude oil itself.

Worth repeating,

COREXIT is four times more toxic than the crude oil itself.

Hello? Government?  This can't be good -- but what do I know -- I'm just the 122 lb fly on the boom.

Of course, in the spirit of the mother of all conspiracies, according to the let's "never let a crisis go to waste" administration we seem to be dwelling under these days, why not cancel out all oil drilling from day one -- and on through every day from this day forward.  Yeah, yeah, that's sounds rational; no jumping to conclusions there, no rash outbursts or testy backtalk will keep this president from fundamentally transforming this here United States of America.  No sirree.

The campaign monies from BP to BO notwithstanding, along with exemptions on itsy bitsy regulations under BO's watch to boot (get it..."we will keep the boot to the neck until the job gets done" Salazar), and  considering BP was in line for another award on safety just moments before the explosion...

...realizing we stand side by side on the reality platform where oil executives and lobbyists gush both ways, priceless.

Call me funny, but because we allowed BP to act  nearly on it's own right from the start (since they were paying for it, and all), we didn't even declare a State of Emergency until NINE days into it; in comparison, during Katrina, the State of Emergency was declared by our President three days before it even happened --while it still didn't protect the Commander in Chief from being on the receiving end of the "why haven't you done more" angry mob. 

The act of God was one thing, but in the second thing, with the levees breaking -- that was totally unforeseen-able -- unprecedented, as some might say; an entire Corps of Engineers could not keep them from failing -- surely just a man, his name is W, a day in the life of an American President could not be everywhere and everything to every issue and live to tell about it in his latest memoir...

But G cannot help but notice that this President continues to get the unprecedented pass by our very own propaganda  press -- even while he intermittently shoots hoops, plays golf, and headlines fundraisers to save a dying incumbent breed like Barbara Boxer. (hmmm risk democratic political damage or risk total economic and environmental disaster in the gulf ... ahh screw it, "just plug the damn hole" already Obama chose to protect political fallout).

But this morning, thirty eight days into it, he brazenly noted that his response to the gulf has nothing to do with politics; it's just about doing the right thing, getting it done.  Yeah, right, and if you believe that I've got some swamp land in Florida to sell you (just never you mind about the ooey-gooey gobbledygook wading in along the shore).

Politics is not only everything in this administration -- it is precisely the most calculated, premeditated, and narcissistic-contrived theater back behind every action this administration plays out.

I'm just glad the wait is over -- the government is in charge; and unbeknownst to the majority of us, it has been the whole entire time.

Well, blow me down.

Now we know.

This is what it looks like; 
thirty eight days later, this is what our government in charge looks like.  And might I say, eew. 

That is good news, for now we know.

And likewise, now we know exactly where to point the finger --
and we will.

(and we might just raise one too)

Make it a Good Day, G